Here’s the latest of our news bulletins from the ongoing crisis at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

State of Nuclear Politics in Japan

Haruki Madarame, the Chair of Japan’s Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC), is raising concerns about the validity of stress tests used to determine whether idled reactors should be restarted. Madarame said that the initial stress tests, which examine a reactor’s ability to withstand earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters, are inadequate, and that a considerably more detailed secondary assessment is needed. None of the tests examine a reactor’s ability to withstand fires, airplane crashes, terrorist attacks, or human error. Madarame noted, “The primary assessments alone are not sufficient to evaluate the safety [of reactors.] I want to see secondary assessments conducted in full.” The NSC does not have legal authority to decide if or when reactors are brought back online; that is a political decision that will be made by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and others, and results from the secondary assessment are not required to do so. However, Madarame’s statements have raised concern among the public, which is becoming increasingly distrustful of the government on this issue.

Members of a Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) expert panel, charged with determining the validity of stage one stress tests conducted by Kansai Electric on reactors #3 and #4 at its Oi plant, are protesting that NISA stopped debate among panel members and announced that approval had been granted before the experts had concluded talks. One member, Hiromitsu Ino, who is Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo, said he feels deceived. Another, Masashi Goto, said the agency is rushing to approve the reactors.

A Japan Atomic Energy Commission panel said this week that disposing of spent nuclear fuel will be far less expensive than recycling it. Meanwhile, a government panel studying the nation’s nuclear fuel policy said that use of a fast-breeder reactor, which could be used to recycle spent fuel, is not a viable option within the next 30 to 40 years. At one time, the hope of recycling spent fuel was a cornerstone of Japan’s nuclear cycle.

An earthquake study commissioned by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) reveals that a major earthquake far larger than previously thought could strike beneath Tokyo Bay, affecting central Tokyo and nearby areas. New data shows shallower plate boundaries, which could increase a quake’s intensity to 7.0 on the Japanese scale. For comparison, the earthquake last March measured 7.0 on the Japanese scale, and 9.0 on the US Geological Survey (USGS) scale. Using the previous data, experts estimated that 850,000 buildings would fall and 11,000 people would die. The new data means that those numbers could be far greater.

A survey by the Environment Ministry shows that only 5% of debris from last year’s earthquake and tsunami has been disposed of, and Environment Minister Goshi Hosono now says that the previously established goal of disposing of the debris by March 2014 is unrealistic. Many municipalities are refusing to accept and incinerate the debris and rubble out of concern about high radiation levels. In Iwate, Fukushima, and Miyagi Prefectures alone, debris from the disaster exceeds 22 million tons.

Thank you for continuing to post these bulletins. I live in Nagoya and must continue to assess my risk, and that of my friends, day to day. Living in ...

Thank you for continuing to post these bulletins. I live in Nagoya and must continue to assess my risk, and that of my friends, day to day. Living in Japan, eating the food here, keeping caution in everything I eat... I have to do that now. Reading these posts gives me information, so I finally get a little peace of mind. Thanks again for your thorough reporting.